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The pursuit of transit improvement involves a bit of a roller-coaster ride.

Destination is the funding Nirvana where Metrolinx’s $50-billion Big Move plan is financed and endorsed. But the journey leaves passengers giddy one day and in despair the next.

Last Thursday was one of the better days. A transit advisory panel, set up by the provincial government, recommends the province adopt a few measures — mainly a gas tax and a small corporate tax increase — to deliver nearly $2 billion a year. Use that money to borrow even more money and transit improvements are guaranteed in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), the panel claims.

One of the most depressing days covering city hall was last May when Toronto city council inelegantly reflected public hypocrisy over funding public transit.

City councillors criticized the provincial Liberals, who have already committed $16 billion of the $50-billion price tag to fix GTHA transit. Then councillors attempted to build a firewall between themselves and the tax hikes needed to improve transit.

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We don’t endorse any of the funding tools, council voted; and we oppose all but two: sales tax and development charges.

The council vote was a low point in the drive toward establishing a fund to finance a transit build-out for the next 25 years, one that’s needed to save commuters 32 minutes in travelling time each day. Do nothing and the 32 minutes is added to one of the longest average commutes in North America, even as a million new cars and 2.5 million people are added to the region.

Thursday’s recommendations from the advisory panel raise hopes again. But, lurking, is the sinking feeling of the approaching provincial election.

I have felt, for some time, that Toronto region residents would vote in favour of new taxes set aside in a trust fund dedicated to transit improvements. A referendum, yes.

The provincial election, when it comes, and it’s reasonable to expect one in 2014 before the municipal elections, will be a bit of a referendum on transit. But that vote will be polluted by other issues.

For example, if you wish to punish the Liberals for eHealth, ORNGE or the cancellation of the gas plants, you cannot — unless you wish to sacrifice your transit future. Of the three political leaders, Premier Kathleen Wynne only seems to grasp the urgency and essential need to fund transit. Tim Hudak and Andrea Horwath peddle policies that leave transit starved for cash.

So, if you are convinced of the absolute need to fund transit and get Metrolinx building new lines, the only way to get that in the current divisive political landscape might be in a referendum. And even then you are rolling the dice.

The Toronto Board of Trade is on the side of the angels. So is Civic Action. Ditto the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, The Big City Mayors, and Toronto council, in a tepid support.

They recognize that the position that says Ontario can tighten its belt and squeeze out enough money for transit is not supported by any evidence. The Anne Golden panel says this is absolutely not so.

If taxes for transit had the makings of fiscal ruin, why is Hazel McCallion trumpeting it?

“Get on with the job. Get on. Let’s go. Let’s go. Go!” the octogenarian mayor said, as Metrolinx approved the funding plan it recommended to the provincial government in May. “I’ve been on two task forces for transit in 20 years. Nothing happened. The time for action has come. No more delay. Get on with the job.”

Maybe one of the candidates for mayor of Toronto in 2014 will run on a platform to fund transit, using contributions from everyone: passengers, drivers, corporate sector, property owners.

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